WHow fast should I run my HF bandsaw?

Chiro75

Chiro75

Joined
Feb 4, 1999
Messages
5,786
My bandsaw came in from Harbor Freight before the weekend, so I put it together and started it up, with the crap stock blade (waiting for my Lenox bimetal still) and when it would touch my 1095 stock it would kick the blkade off the wheels every time on the slowest speed. I changed the pulleys to the highest speed, which honestly doesn't seem much faster than the slowest speed to me, and the blade doesn't jump off anymore, but the cutting takes forever, obviously, with the stock blade. When I get my new blade should I keep it running at the fastest speed, which is still pretty slow, or what? The blade I tested out didn't even get warm in the least. I'll be using a 14-18 TPI (I think) blade, mainly on 1/8" stock.
 
Stick with the slowest speed, blades will last longer and it is safer.
Don't be in a big hurry the closer the profile is cut the less sanding!
Do yourself a favor and cover the table with a fresh piece of 1/8" steel that only has a bladewidth cut in it. The factory one will allow small pieces to fall between the blade and the rollers. NOT fun...ask me how I know this:D
 
I HATE it when a small trimming falls into the rollers and jams as tight as a ............(you know).It is a bear to get out.I put a masonite slab on the cutting table.
 
I used a bandsaw on my A2 the other day, and it was running SLOW. I mean surprisingly slow even for what I expected. It was probably (running on memory) about 10 or 12tpi, but you could put your finger lightly on the blade's side and feel the teeth go by, and probably carefully let the front of the blade graze your finger w/o damage (not that I tried it...).

If I had to ballpark it, I'd say it was going at no more than 2 feet per second, so probably 80-120 fpm is a good range, and what I've read elsewhere.
You gotta push, but it'll go.

_z

EDIT: Also, for your small chunks getting in the wheels problem, it's not too hard to make a smaller table to rest underneath the main table that runs very close to the blade to weed out the little pieces.
 
Good tip on the table. The problem was that at the slowest speed the blade popped opff every time. Maybe the crappy blade was the problem, though, so I'll play around with it with the new one. That's give me some time to rig up something to keep the chips from jamming it up. I should start a business for knifemakers called www.harborfreightbandsawmodkits.com and sell a Lenox blade, little chip catcher, better/larger/sturdier table, etc! :D
 
I run mine on the fastest speed. It works for me but you might have better luck on the slower settings.
I need to get a piece of masonite to add ontop of my 1/8" steel table top. Small parts fall in like others have said. Do yourself a favor and crank that blade tight! I use gloves to really crank it down.
 
I second what blgoode said...I had to crank my belt TIGHT to keep it from popping off all the time. Ever looking for the bright side in things though, I DID learn how to put the blade back on quickly and efficently after doing it so often till I figured it out! :) :rolleyes: :footinmou
 
yep there should be a little ajuster on the back side at the top just below the hand crank when i got mine i kept tossing the blade off
flip open the door on the saw
crank the blade tight
start the saw up and look to see where the blade tracks on the top wheel
use the ajuster to move the blade right back to the lip on the back of the wheel you should have no problems after that
hope this helps
butch
 
I didn't know there was an adjuster in there. I'll have to poke around and see... Thanks! Next tutorial should be "All The Crap You Have To Do To Make A HF Bandsaw Act Like A Normal Tool". :rolleyes: But, it's cheap, so there is that....
 
Adjuster is on the back side of the top wheel, adjusts the tilt of the Idler wheel. Looks like a plain OL bolt.
Take the blade off and fiddle with it you will see it move the bottom of the idler wheel in and out. Adjust so it is tilited bottom side out.

DO NOT overtighten the blade tension or your bearings will have a SHORT life!
Mine gets tightened by sound...What you say???
Tighten to hold, then adjust untill when strummed it begins to sound like a bow string. Takes a little practice but works:D
 
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